Convertible sofa bed



July 14, 1959 N. J. GRAN 2,894,266

CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED Filed June 25. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, 72077221272 j Gram July 14, 1959 N, R 2,894,266

\ CONVERTIBLE SOFA BED Filed June 25, 1953 'examv w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 10 !4 50 as 325 I 6'6 2' T 6 61 5e Z Y 3295 76 75 K 1 I 32 O 72 United States WW tioNvg- Tt L SOFA BED Nptmani-fi tb bisase; J L- i kpplic g tiop Iline 1953 Serial No. 364,092

This invention relates to a convertible sofa bed. In the trade, conyertible sofa beds are eommonly olaeed in three types: those that are good beds and poor" sofas, those that are poor beds and good sofas, and thosethat are neither. To be a good sofa, the seat and the back must be firm and properly spaeed from the front edge of the seat, and the seat mhst he at 3 Proper height ii-bove a floor. Io beha good bed, the mattress and/ or spring post be firmly siipp or ted" horizontally on the fiooi'. While posters do pot iippgiiji" sleeping qlialities of' a heavy bed, they do of a light bed. Because the depth of the sof a. seat is sphstaptially less than the Width" of ngle b d the s ews s l ti n h sb i u i z the ba of 1 1 a Per b d Tt mew a qgm te bled th e bf ck the so a- Al the e .a i an em t f 'i ir i l ikeges which grepsu ally node; ter sion in die oi both 1508;- tigps of the convertible sota bed. Sueh li ika ges are ha d to m u at h P n d l y mo ement P the 3 em n i e guggky .s .H

Ap ican e i q qs t b e s a is b e lie iii'li 40 pou s funetio s'. plete sse :9 5992 Wall- .t is sho si gr b eegs g-fugedgelationship to t he b ed and it e t ih k9 i r. :1" 81 i Ile spi ed ewe 011 w n don 4 34 9 be -szste deii em houses y w o orily. The fact that there ishothing -bm l men-i i its its h rb-e iiss sea fi le n let di eiblaekst .i m

soft; beds haying storage room for bedding in which the l gn hpq nb her i'e 'ie hi flv m pn s to prov d a r p'st ib b l rh ieh n p b i e s the bglgqf the sofa. Comg letelyrerpofieble'bolsteis, hieh i mange i "s qd q 'e ue ies f te p llewslf 'r' lid-5 ble. They musf b in s 0, 15 i qd they spffei" welr e in ed A511 1je"bp 1 str"" f fixedjios'tiohha g.

' gii'glhee ga amageg'bm it i's'iiot y't m ve mm intehove the 'bed. So e conve ihle sofas provide Ther 5 eal! sew whi ee -li wis i 1116 sintn isi i ep lie e il'sis he e bblsiefis m u t d en e Patel whi h w en h P s e fi i j qf ieq t Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. ,1, gbl til lust ates the bolster l wtq i m sn q ng l o i the t am e I QQQiQ IW fiIS tim W L 7 fig. 3 is similar tod fig. 1, -hut ill lstrat es the bed 'apk 1 m e r-ss b be? wi h e QW i li i e L ni sw de i s .i ase f Fi 4 i a se se ie sta enp tth i 4:4 o

5 is .se isme akes 99t ia 159 Pi H i x ts sene h li 5 759 5 3; @E i e s et qa e en b h li i fi 30f Fig.4. i Fmfiui t r e he dt w s s end p r t l hi fra a b mtl s fen WY s 49 1s "a gi m mad sh awps im tri as o ii ierss s tteoit tsp o histmm i f d s d efl KPWQQdPW hfli e e w ha a 1 '51 fh ite I Ihe rem i r qt n ssl listendin eqms ih mt b k o t wf em e r n lwrli e 4, i W d sPi in etpennitth inass e q oe s l eeuts d s ef s of thi item QURPWS 94m fmh na t s Ih t p e wthi mat r ss i at a hei tcem arah w'i h e qmfs i b L Qf illeid ns from the bottom of the legs to thetop'of the mattress which is covered with any suitable upholstery fabric, i.e., mohair, frieze, etc. This covering may be permanently attached to the mattress, for it is not to be removed when the combination is being used as a bed.

The mattress 16 may be anchored to the frame in any satisfactory manner. Applicant slots the plywood top near the head and the foot centrally of the portion upon which the mattress is to rest with slots 18 and 20, see Fig. 6, through which he slips a belt 22, one end of which is fastened to the bottom of the mattress and the other end of which carries a buckle 25. A second belt having one end fastened to the mattress and having a tongue 26 which is slipped through slot 20 and which fastens in the buckle 25. Two of these belts are sufficient to hold the mattress in firm position.

Mounted on the frame is a housing or cabinet 28. This cabinet consists of two end walls 30 and 32 and a top 24. The back is open although there may be vertical or horizontal supporting stays such as 36. Referring to Fig. 6, the housing extends forwardly to a point about two or three inches inwardly of the mattress 16. This is not critical, but is done to minimize the extent to which the combination sofa will extend into a room. It is a major object of applicant to have no part of the combination sofa above the sleeper, but extending the housing two or three inches over the inner edge of the mattress is not believed to be detrimental. The unit shown has a mattress that is 33 inches in width and the depth of the housing behind the mattress is about twelve inches with the total housing depth about fifteen to sixteen inches. The forward face of the housing 28 is open, although there is a wood flashing 38 around the opening for appearance purposes. Two bumpers such as 84, Fig. 6, space the sofa bed from the wall.

Pivotally mounted near the forward lower inside of the end walls 30 and 32 by any suitable means such as upwardly directed U-shaped holders 40, see Fig. 1, is a rack or bail 41, which serves as a bedding hanger. The rack 41 consists of a lower cross bar 42 extending the full length of the housing and a plurality of arms 44 holding an outer cross bar 46. The two end arms 44 and 48 are spaced inwardly of the housing by a distance such that the rack may pass through the front opening when it is swung outwardly. Referring to Fig. 6, the arms 44 are L-shaped. The lower arm of the L is desirable in order that the arm will clear the edge of the mattress. The outer bar 46 is spaced from the pivot so that when it is swung over the bed mattress, referring to Fig. 6, it will occupy approximately the longitudinal midpoint of the mattress. The rack moves freely. There are no detents. It is under no stress and will not rattle.

Mounted across the upper inside portion of each end wall of the housing 28 is a steel channel 50. In each rides a roller 52. These rollers are fastened in any suitable manner to a front panel 54 whose dimensions are slightly less than those of the opening in the front of the housing and whose height is such that in the position shown in Fig. 4, the bottom of the panel will be just above the mattress 16. This panel 54 may swing through the front opening of the housing. The lower flange of each of the channels such as flange 60 are bent downwardly so as to form a pocket between the flange and the flashing 38. Mounted on the inside surface at each upper end of the panel 54 is a triangular steel gusset 56 having an outwardly projecting lug 58. This lug, see also Fig. 7, is adapted to engage the under side of the lower flange 60 of the channel 50.

Mounted by any suitable means on the outer face of the panel 54 is a sofa back bolster 61. This bolster has a firm back 62 with a foam rubber face and this is finished usually in the same upholstery material as the mattress. This frame member 62 is mounted on a spacing block or frame 64. This spacing block has a depth dimension slightly greater than the distance from the top 24 The day condition of the combination sofa is illustrated in Fig. 1. It is an armless sofa and the bolster 61 provides a comfortable back rest with a person sitting at the right height above the floor. When it is desired to use the sofa as a bed, the bolster 61 is pushed back into the housing as illustarted in Figs. 2 and 5. This is done by raising the bottom of the bolster slightly forwardly so as to disengage the lug 58 from the flange 60, referring to Fig. 6, and then pushing the bolster rearwardly. As soon as the wheels 52 clear the pocket 70, the bolster rides back smoothly. When the bolster is at the rear of the housing and the hand is taken off the bolster, the panel 54 being unbalanced by virtue of the bolster, will engage the lug 58 on the bottom of the flange 60 and will hold it firmly against forward or rearward movement.

The bed is made in the standard way. There is first laid across the bed a mattress pad 72, see Fig. 5, two sheets 74 and 76, and a blanket 78. The sheets and the blanket are tucked along the inner side of the mattress at 80. The sheets and blankets may be tucked on the outer side and the foot and will be laid back as illustrated in Fig. 2. The bed is a standard bed resting on a firm base.

When the bed is to be reconverted to a sofa, the bolster is pulled forward until the wheels 52 drop into the pocket 70, the bolster is then swung up so that the panel 54 is in a horizontal position. The bolster is then pushed back so that the upper inside edge of the bolster may rest on the top of the housing 24 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. The rack 41 is swung forwardly into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The foot end of all of the bedding including the pad are swung over the corner of the rack as illustrated by the numeral 82 in Fig. 3. The same is done with the forward end of the bedding and then the whole central portion is thrown over as illustrated in cross section in Fig. 6. Thereupon, the rack is swung back into the housing. In this operation, the bedding hangs as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 over the dotted rack 41. The bedding hangs comparatively free and the distance from the outer bar 46 to the pivot points 40 is such that the inner end of the bedding remains tucked beneath the mattress at the point 80. Due to the opening 15 and the fact that the back of the housing is open and is spaced from the wall by buffers such as 84, the bedding, while out of sight, is nevertheless properly aired. Thereupon, the bolster 60 and the panel 54 are pulled forward permitting the wheels 52 to drop into the pocket 70. The combination is now in sofa form.

Applicant has experimented with other forms of bedding hangers such as a bar retractable on accordion arms. The important element is that the arm that supports the bedding may be moved into the upper part of the housing so that the clothes will hang down freely, and it is useful if it is not necessary to pull the bedding out from under the mattress at the point 80.

The position of the cross bar of the bail or hanger which applicant here shows along the median line of the bed may be varied within a considerable range. By lengthening the arms of the bail, the housing height must be increased. On the other hand, by shortening the arms of the bail, the bedding will hang lower in the housing and actually extend through the opening 15.

The length of the cross arm 46 of the bail is somewhat shorter than the length of the bed as here shown. The ends of the cross arms are about two inches inside the ends of the bed respectively. The cross arm can be substantially shortened or it can be made longer than the bed. This will require suitable widening of the front opening of the housing. The cross arm is shown straight and parallel to the median line of the bed. The bail need not be straight. Its length and shape must be such that it is easy to throw the clothing over it.

Having thus described his invention, applicant claims:

1. A portable sofa bed comprising a flat substantially rigid, generally rectangular frame, means for supporting the frame horizontally above a floor, a single mattress resting on and substantially coextensive with the upper surface of one side of the frame, and leaving an upwardly directed exposed portion on the frame, a housing mounted on the frame and over said exposed portion frame and extending upwardly, an opening in the housing facing the mattress, a pair of transverse, complementary tracks each mounted in the upper opposite ends of said housing, a panel for closing said opening and supported at opposite upper ends respectively in said tracks, and a horizontally disposed bolster mounted on the outer face of the panel with its outer surface at a sitting position distance from the front edge of the mattress whereby the bolster and the panel may be pushed horizontally into the housing.

2. A portable sofa bed comprising a flat substantially rigid, generally rectangular frame, means for supporting the frame horizontally above a floor, a single mattress resting on and substantially coextensive with the upper surface of one side of the frame and leaving an upwardly directed exposed portion on the frame, a housing mount ed on the frame and over said exposed portion and extending upwardly, an opening in the housing facing the mattress, a pair of transverse, complementary tracks each mounted in the upper opposite ends of said housing, a depression in the forward end of each track, a roller disposed in each track, a panel for closing said opening and pivotally mounted at opposite upper ends in said rollers whereby the panel may be moved rearwardly and forwardly in said housing and may be pivoted into a horizontal position, and a bolster mounted on the outer face of said panel, the back of the bolster being spaced from the panel by a distance exceeding that from the top of the panel in horizontal position to the top of the housing whereby the upper back of the bolster may be rested on the top of the housing when the panel is in a substantially horizontal position.

3. A portable sofa bed comprising a bed, an upright housing mounted on and disposed along one of the long sides of said bed, there being an opening on the wall of the housing adjacent the bed, a panel horizontally pivoted at the top opposite ends of the panel to the respective upper inside end walls of the housing so that the panel may be swung through the opening, an elongated sofa back bolster horizontally mounted on the face of the panel, and a bedding bail having the ends of its arms horizontally pivoted within the housing and of a size movable through the opening so that its cross bar may be laid across a bed.

4. A portable sofa bed comprising a bed, an upright housing mounted on and disposed along one of the long sides of said bed, there being an opening on the wall of the housing adjacent the bed, a horizontal track mounted on the inside upper end wall of the housing and in transverse alignment with a similar track similarly located on the opposite inside end wall, a movable carriage mounted in each track, a panel pivotally supported at each upper end in a carriage, the panel thereby being swingable through the opening, and an elongated sofa back bolster horizontally mounted on the front of the panel.

5. The sofa bed of claim 4 wherein a fixed lug is mounted on the back of the panel beneath the track and is frictionally engageable with its bottom when the panel is in upright position.

6. A sofa bed comprising a bed, an upright housing disposed along one of the long sides of said bed, there being an opening on the wall of the housing adjacent the bed, a horizontal track mounted on the inside upper end wall of the housing and in transverse alignment with a similar track similarly located on the opposite inside end wall, a movable carriage mounted in each track, a panel pivotally supported at each upper end in a carriage, the panel thereby being swingable through the opening, a sofa back bolster mounted on the front of the panel, and a bedding bail having its arms at their ends pivotally mounted within the housing so that its outer bar may be swung through said opening over the bed.

7. The bedding rail of claim 6 wherein the arms of the bail are L-shaped with the open side toward the bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,080 Conant Feb. 7, 1893 1,087,285 Farlow Feb. 17, 1914 1,142,559 Fillmore et a1. June 8, 1915 1,271,955 Sisbower et a1. July 9, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,812 Norway Apr. 5, 1937 83,845 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1920 195,032 Switzerland Jan. 15, 1938 675,491 France Feb. 11, 1930 848,854 Germany Sept. 8, 1952 

